Steam-condensing plant working under vacuum.



D. B. MORISON.

STEAM CONDENSING PLANT WORKING UNDER VACUUM.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG.18, 1913.

Patented Mar. 24, 19%

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

D. B. MOBISON.

STEAM GONDENSING PLANT WORKING UNDER VACUUM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.1B, 1913.

0215027 4:2 gammam' CZWHZL. I

ATE PEREZ.

DONALD BABNS MORISON, 0F HARTLEPOOL, ENGLAND.

STEAM-CONDENSING PLANT WORKING UNDER VACUUM.

To all whom i I? may concern Be it known that I, DONALD Banks More son, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Hartlepool, in the county of Durham, England, have invented Improvements in or Relating to Steam- Condensing Plants lVorking Under Vacuum, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steam condensing plants of the kind wherein the water of condensation is withdrawn from the condenser by a rotary water pump and the air by one or more reciprocating pumps driven separately from the rotary water pump and cooled by admission thereto of a regulated amount of cooled water, the arrangement being such that on the stoppage or derangement of the rotary water with drawing pump. the pump or pumps which normally withdraw the air, withdraw both the water and the air.

Now the objectof the present invention is to improve condensing plants of the kind referred to by increasing the el'liciency and utility of the apparatus. For this purpose, the discharge chamber or chambers of the air pump or pumps is connected by a nonreturn valve to the water discharge system, so that when the air pump or pumps are withdrawing the water of condensation from the condenser in the event of derangement of the rotary water pump, the water is discharged by the air pump or pumps through the non-return valve direct into the water discharge system, the arrangement being such, however, that under normal working conditions when the water of condensation is removed by the rotary water pump, the non-return valve is automatically closed and a constant minimum head of water can be maintained in the discharge chamber or chambers of the air pump or pumps, as for example, by means of an auxiliary pump which thus reduces the head of water on the air pump delivery valves and therefore the pressure against which the air pump or pumps discharge.

The improvements also comprise other novel features which are hereinafter referred to.

The accompanying drawings Figure 1, 2,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 18, 1913.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914.

Serial No. 785,381.

l 3 and 4, show diagrammatically various ar rangements according to the invention.

In Fig. 1, air is withdrawn from the con denser a by the two reciprocating air pumps 9 and h, which discharge into a common discharge chamber to which is connected a discharge pipe 7 The pipe 9 through which air and water are discharged when the air pumps are used for withdrawing both air and water, is fitted with a valve such as a non-return valve Z), and another valve is fitted on the pipe through which the water of condensation is normally removed from the condenser, for example, I may provide a valve 2 in the pipe 6 between the condenser a and the rotary pump (Z, and a valve such as a non-return valve 3 in the discharge pipe Z which leads into the discharge pipe 7'. To one or other of the discharge pipes, as for example, to the discharge pipe 1*, a pipe 14 is connected by which water, such as is required for admission to the air pumps, passes into the suction system, either direct through the pipe 4 or through a water cooler c by the pipe 5, under the control of a cock ;1 and this water on being discharged through the air pump head valves is delivered by a pump :0, which may be operated by the driving mechanism of the air pumps, into the discharge pipe 9', or elsewhere as desired. By this arrangement and under normal work ing conditions, the water discharged by the air pumps into the discharge chamber is withdrawn therefrom by the pump in and delivered into the pipe 1' beyond the nonreturn valve Z), whereby a constant minimum head of water is normally maintained in the discharge chamber of the air pumps 9 and 71, and the cooling water delivered to the air pumps is the de-aerated water from the condenser, while should there be any excess in the quantity of water of condensation delivered from the condenser, or should any sudden stoppage or derangement of the rotary water pump (Z occur, the water of condensation will rise in the pipe 0 and overflow from the condenser into the pipe 79, and be automatically discharged by the air pumps 9 and h and delivered tl'n'ough the non-return valve 5 into the discharge pipe 1*,

thereby providing great reliability and safeguard against derangement. The usual air discharge pipe 3 from the air pump discharge'chamber may be provided, and may be fitted with a valve n or carried sufficiently high so as to prevent the discharge of water therethrough when the air pumps are delivering the water of condensation from the condenser through the non-return valve 6.

Fig. 2 is a modification of the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, and in which the supply of sealing Water for the air pumps is taken from the discharge chamber by the pipe 5 and passes through a water cooler 0 into the air pump suction system in continuous circulation. With the object of supplying sealing water to the air pumps in the event of derangement of the water cooler c, the water cooler may be shut OK, as by the cock y, and the water discharge system Z from the condenser connected by a pipe 4 to the air pumps suction system. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous because in the event of the supply of water of condensation ceasing, as when the main engines are stopped, the cooling water can be withdrawn from the reservoir formed by the discharge pipe Z, and maintained in continuous circulation through the air pump sys tem, the pump a; withdrawing the water from the air pumps discharge chamber and delivering it into the discharge pipe 9", in the manner hereinbefore described.

Fig. 3 is another arrangement in which the air pumps 9 and h are independent, but capable of having their discharge chambers placed in communication with each other by means of the valve on. Under normal working conditions, sealing water is supplied from the air discharge chamber through the pipe 5 and flows through the water cooler 0 into the suction system of the air pumps under the ontrol of the valves 0 and 0 the discharge chambers being placed in communication with each other by opening the valve we so that the pump 00 will withdraw the surplus water from both discharge chambers and thus maintain a desired minimum head of water on the air pump discharge valves, the delivery from the pump a; being into a feed tank or elsewhere as desired. The discharge chamber of the pump g is connected by a non-return valve Z) to the discharge. pipe 7', so that in the event of the rotary water pump (Z becoming deranged, the water will flow from the condenser through the pipes 19 and i into the pump 9 by which it will be discharged through the non-return valve 6, the valve m between the discharge chambers being closed. Or by opening the valves m and 7 both pumps g and it may be used for discharging through the valve the water of condensation together with the air from the condenser.

Although two reciprocating air pumps are referred to in the arrangements described, it will be understood that only one air pump may be employed, such as illustrated in Fig. l which is a modification of the arrangement described with reference to Fig. 1.

hat I claim is 1. In combination acondenser, a rotary water pump connected to the condenser to withdraw water of condensation therefrom, a reciprocating air pump having its suction side connected to the condenser at a point above the point of connection of the water pump so as to normally withdraw only air therefrom, but to also withdraw water on the rise of water in the condenser due to stoppage of the water pump and a delivery pipe connected with the delivery side of said air pump and a non-return valve in said delivery pipe, substantially as described.

2. In combination a condenser, a rotary water pump connected to the condenser to withdraw water of condensation therefrom, a reciprocating air pump having its suction side connected to the condenser above the point of connection of the water pump, so as to normally withdraw only air therefrom but to withdraw air and water on stoppage of the water pump, a delivery pipe connected to the delivery side of the air pump and having a non-return valve, and a delivery pipe leading from the delivery side of the water pump to the first named delivery pipe beyond the nonreturn valve, substantially as described.

3. In combination a condenser, a rotary water pump connected to the condenser to withdraw water of condensation therefrom, a reciprocating air pump having its suction side connected to the condenser at a point above the point of connection of the water pump so as to normally withdraw only air therefrom, but to also withdraw water on the rise of water in the condenser water outlet due to stoppage of the water pump, a delivery pipe connected with the delivery side of said air pump, a non-return valve in said delivery pipe, and an auxiliary pump connected with said air pump for maintaining a normal head of water in the discharge chamber of said air pump.

at. In combination a condenser, a rotary water pump connected to the condenser to withdraw water of condensation therefrom, a reciprocating air pump having its suction side connected to the condenser above the point of connection of the water pump, so as to normally withdraw only air therefrom but to withdraw air and water on stoppage of the water pump, a delivery pipe connected to the delivery side of the air pump and having a non-return valve, a delivery pipe leading from the dehvery side of the water pump to said first named delivery pipe beyond the non-return valve, an auxiliary pipe for supplying water to the air pump, and an auxiliary pump connected to withdraw water from the delivery chamber of the air pump and deliver it to said first named delivery pipe.

5. In combination a condenser, a rotary water pump connected to the condenser to withdraw water of condensation therefrom, a reciprocating air pump having its suction side connected to the condenser at a point above the point of connection of the water pump so as to normally Withdraw only air therefrom but to also withdraw water on the rise of water in the condenser water outlet due to stoppage of the water pump, a delivery pipe connected with the delivery side of said air pump, a non-return valve in said delivery pipe, and a valved air delivery pipe also connected with the delivery chamber of said air pump, substantially as described.

6. In combination a condenser, a rotary water pump connected to the condenser to withdraw water of condensation therefrom, a reciprocating air pump having its suction side connected to the condenser at a point above the point of connection of the water pump so as to normally withdraw only air therefrom but to also withdraw water on the rise of water in the condenser Water outlet due to stoppage of the water pump, a delivery pipe connected with the delivery side of said air pump, a non-return valve in said delivery pipe, a valved air delivery pipe also connected with the delivery chamber of said air pump, and an auxiliary pump connected with said air pump for maintaining a normal head of water in the discharge chamber of said air pump, substantially as described.

7. In combination a condenser, a rotary water pump connected to the condenser to withdraw water of condensation therefrom, a pair of reciprocating air pumps having their suction side connected to the condenser above the point of connection of the water pump, so as to normally withdraw only air therefrom but to withdraw air and water on stoppage of the water pump, the delivery side of said air pumps having a valve controlled connection, a water delivery pipe connected to the delivery side of one of the air pumps and having a non-return valve, and a valved air deli ery pipe connected to the delivery chamber of the other air pump, substantially as described.

8. In combination a condenser, a rotary water pump connected with the condenser to withdraw water of condensation therefrom, a pair of reciprocating air pumps, a valve controlled connection bet-ween the suction sides of said air pumps, and a connection from said suction side of the air pumps to the condenser above the point of connection of the water pump, and a water delivery pipe connection with the delivery chambers of the air pump and having a non-return valve, substantially as described.

9. In combination a condenser, a rotary water pump connected to the condenser to withdraw water of condensation therefrom, a pair of reciprocating air pumps having their suction side connected to the condenser above the point of connection of the water pump, so as to normally withdraw only air therefrom but to withdraw air and water on stoppage of the water pump, the delivery side of said air pumps having a valve controlled connection, a valve controlled connection between the suction side of said air pumps, a water delivery pipe connected to the delivery side of one of the air pumps and having a non-return valve, and a valved air delivery pipe connected to the delivery chamber of the other air pump, substantially as described.

10. In combination a condenser, a rotary water pump connected to the condenser to withdraw water of condensation therefrom, a pair of reciprocating air pumps having their suction side connected to the condenser above the point of connection of the water pump, so as to normally withdraw only air therefrom but to withdraw air and Water on stoppage of the water pump, the delivery side of said air pumps having a valve controlled connection, a valve controlled connection between the suction side of said air pumps, a water delivery pipe connected to the delivery side of one of the air pumps and having a non-return valve, a valved air delivery pipe connected to the delivery chamber of the other air pump, and an auxiliary pump connected with said air pumps for maintaining a normal head of water in the discharge chamber of said air pumps, substantially as described.

11. In combination a condenser, a rotary water pump connected to the condenser to withdraw water of condensation therefrom, a reciprocating air pump having its suction side connected to the condenser at a point above the point of connection of the water pump, a delivery pipe connection with the delivery side of the air pump and having a non-return valve, an auxiliary water circulating system connecting the receiving and delivery sides of said air pump, and water cooling means included in said system.

12. In combination a condenser, a rotary water pump connected to the condenser to withdraw Water of condensation therefrom,

a pair of reciprocating air pumps having their suction side connected to the condenser above the point of connection of the Water pump, so as to normally Withdraw only air therefrom but to withdraw air and Water on stoppage of the Water pump, a- Water delivery pipe connected to the delivery side of one of the air pumps and having a nonreturn valve, a valved air delivery pipe connected to the delivery chamber of the other air pump, and an auxiliary Water circulating system connecting the receiving and delivery sides of said air pump, and Water cooling means included in said system, substantially as described.

Signed at West Hartlepool, in the county of Durham, England, this 6th day of August, 1913.

DONALD BARNS MORISON.

Witnesses:

HARRY FOTHERGILL, HAROLD SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents .each by addressing the Commissioner of Patent:-

Washington, D. 0. 

